Google acquires Skybox Imaging for $500 million

Google has just announced that they’ve purchased Skybox Imaging for $500 million, in an effort to help keep imagery updated more rapidly, improve global internet access, and assist in disaster relief.

Google’s press release on the acquisition was short and to the point:

Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to buy Skybox Imaging for $500 million in cash, subject to adjustments.

Skybox’s satellites will help keep Google Maps accurate with up-to-date imagery. Over time, we also hope that Skybox’s team and technology will be able to help improve Internet access and disaster relief — areas Google has long been interested in.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals in the US.

About Mickey Mellen

Mickey has been using Google Earth since it was released in 2005, and has created a variety of geo-related sites including Google Earth Hacks. He runs a web design firm in Marietta, GA, where he lives with his wife and two kids.

Comments

OK Skybox have a slick website with pretty images and some HD videos shot from a satellite. But these show that the average Google Earth user would not really see much happening in real time once they had seen that streams of traffic move on roads, plus the odd moving plane on an airfield. The resolution of the imagery on the Skybox site is also way below the best already on Google Earth, and a slightly newer picture is a high price to pay for a drop in image quality. So what are Google, and the Google Earth user, getting?

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